Taking a break…

Our front offices are closing between now and Jan. 4 so the posts might be less frequent but here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season to everyone who visits Inside the Dodgers and those who read these posts on Facebook. I hope you are all as excited as I am about the 2010 season and of course, the rest of the hot stove league that will lead up to pitchers and catchers reporting to Camelback Ranch.

See you all next year and thanks for another great season…

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Hello everyone, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season…I have not been on much, but as like the rest very frustrated with the way the club is being run. I was reading the article that Dennis Mannion was interviewed for. What a joke I am putting one of the answers he gave in refence to Wolf and where the money will be spent.

Since Wolf probably would have signed a long-term contract somewhere else even if the Dodgers had offered him arbitration, how worried were you about the millions it might cost to sign the draft picks you would have gotten in return?

You’re dealing with a very fluid situation. Those millions that are potentially in play, they can manifest themselves where the opportunity is. If the opportunity is in buying more portable concession stands, then that’s what you do. If the opportunity is buying some international talent that you have a very good handle on, that’s what you do. In this particular world, you’re making those assessments on a daily basis.

He really answered portable concessions stands as to where the money may be spent…Now he did back track in the next question but if this is the mentality of who is running the club…we are in for a long offseason.

Sorry Josh I love the Dodgers but they are making it hard to be faithful…It is really hard to trust the powers to be….

As soon as I finished reading the Mannion interview in today’s Times this morning I laughed to myself thinking, “this should get some interesting comments from ITD”. I agree, Mannion’s comments did not enlighten anything even though the interviewer tried. But what did you really expect to learn? Does anyone really expect someone whose checks are signed by Frank McCourt to say anything negative about the day to day operations of the organization or to give any information that could be used against it? It is starting to look as if the front office is being run the same way the team played last year: with smoke and mirrors.

Josh, none of these comments is a reflection on you. I know all of us appreciate the job you have to do. Thanks for keeping this blog going and allowing us to express our support and criticisms of the Dodgers. Have a good holiday and get whatever rest you can.

I second that LBirken, Josh does a great job…I just would hope that Mannion would have enough sense to not make that comment. Almost a year ago was the famous Jamie McCourt comment about if the fans wanted to build more dream fields or spend money on FA’s…

Mannion may be a great guy and quite capable. At least he agreed to an interview. Clearly Frank knows he has a huge image problem and has decided to stay away. Maybe that is a good thing but it seems to me the last thing this organization needs at the moment is an owner working out of an office in Beverly Hills focused on property development rather than making the Dodgers better on and off the field. The organization and the fans deserve better.

I am not too worried about players getting what they deserve. The system is set up for that to happen. It is also the price to pay for developing home grown talent. When that talent gets a chance, it usually opts for the money. I offer Adrian Beltre as a great example. With so much young talent approaching arbitration and free agency, any organization would be concerned and cautious about deciding who gets the big money and who walks. So enjoy these young players (I refuse to refer to them as “kids”) while you still can. And don’t feel sorry for them if they don’t get as much money as you think they should. Whatever they get is still a lot of money no matter how you count it.

This “bear” wants to let his better demeanor come through during the holidays, like the teddy bear that I usually am when not being totally exasperated by our team’s ownership and front office. So, in that spirit, let me wish all of you on ITD a Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year. Much cheer and joy, and warm feelings with the families that surround you, my friends!

I also wanted to thank Josh for continuing to post as often as he can. While I am not too worried about 2010, I am worried about the overall direction of the franchise. The front office is constantly talking out of both ends and speaks as if the fans have absolutely no idea what the heck is going on. Did the front office folks ever consider that there are a good number of Dodgers fans that are probably more successful in business than they are? That can’t be, they think, because they are the end-all be-all, right? I have season tickets to renew by January 15th, and I can honestly say that I am thinking about not doing so this season. If the team that leads the MLB in attendance with the 6th highest price per game in terms of cost can’t do better than break even and act like the Royals instead of the Dodgers, then someone is seriously mismanaging funds within the organization. I don’t feel like I want to contribute to that. Anyone else out there thinking about holding back on season tickets this season?

Gad, when I’m not getting submission errors for too many posts before I even get one in, I’m getting kicked off my own connection.

Josh, I’ll add my thanks to you for your work here. Although a lot of us are malcontents, we are all certainly Dodger fans. And we’re very grateful for having this avenue for venting. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Mannion. Blechh. Reading what he has to say makes me think of very many things, none of them complimentary. First, I get a visual of a guy with a cheesy mustache smoking a cheap cigar, wearing a loud checkered sportsjacket, trying to sell you a car that he doesn’t own. I found myself going back over his meandering answers to direct questions, trying to figure out what the hell he said. Great, a politician. Second, it occurs to me that the #1 guy on the team is absolutely full of excrement, and the last time an LA sports team was run by a guy like him, my LA Rams went downhill in a hurry.

We might indeed do OK in 2010. Perhaps even win our division again. But win the World Series? Not unless about 3/4s of our guys have career years.

But what I continue to say is, wake me up when Ethier/Kemp/Loney/Billz/Brox/Kershaw are through with their arbitration years and enter free agency. Let’s see if they sign long-term contracts with us – or with other teams. Because that is when McCourts’ commitment to youth will extend to the new youth – the inexpensive youth. The talent will leave for greener and more lucrative pastures and bozos like Mannion will regurgitate the spin you read today and the masses will accept it. I won’t. And I know many of you won’t either. But as long as a boob like McCourt continues to own OUR team, it will be ever so.

Fabulous posts lbirken, messagebear (I knew you were just a teddy bear!!), 636566cy, and Dodgereric/Ward Dear!!!

I would like to wish everyone in our ITD family a very Merry Christmas whether you are a reader or a writer. We have said it all along, but as much as we get all worked up over our boys in blue (or the management most of the time), it’s what has brought this wonderful group of individuals together. The need to see the best Dodger team out on the field whenever possible. If you are traveling, be safe and best wishes to you and your family.

And when you have to sign a guy like Carroll for a couple mil a year and have to DEFER part of that contract…
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Doesn’t exactly speak well of the team’s finances.

If Frank is forced to sell the team, the new owner better have some deep pockets for a couple years because they aren’t going to get the cable rights until the contract with Fox is up. How screwed up is that? And I wouldn’t be too sure that the parking lot attendant would be willing to part with the land around the stadium either. Could be you would have one owner of the TV rights, one owner of the land, and one owner of the team and stadium. Frank’ll pop the parking up to $20 (isn’t a $10 and a $5 rather messy anyway? Or a fin back from a twenty? Might as well just make it an easy transaction and hand over the $20 and be done with it.) The new owners without cable and parking will of course have to raise the ticket and concession prices to make up the difference.

I just would like to wish everyone on ITD a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday, which ever is appropriate.
I’m keeping up with the offseason everyday as I know the rest of you are. Just hoping for the best for the team.

Best wishes to you, too, Oldbrooklynfan. Looking forward to chatting more when we start playing ball again.
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Enchanted ~ I’m tired of being had too. I know every time we go to a ballgame, the prices edge up just a little…..thinking nobody will notice. I have noticed!

One more thing I would like to point out to the front office is the perception their fans and baseball fans have of them. They don’t ever seem to be on the same page and it always seems like they need to come back and clarify comments made in the press for a week before they finally “spin” it the way it was intended. What was once the most classy organization in baseball is now the butt of all baseball jokes because of the complete disorganizaton of the management of the franchise. I hope someone in the ivory tower realizes this and gets to work on fixing this perception/reality very quickly. As all of you know, perception may not always be reality, but it is perceived to be reality nevertheless.

I will delay my judgment of this owner and his GM until the start of Spring Training. When that day arrives, all is open for critique. But one would think, in a perfect world, anyway, that this organization would do EVERYTHING in its power to help send Vinny off on a championship note. Granted, an announcer is hardly the heart and soul of any franchise…but in this case he IS the heart and certainly the soul of this team. But alas, this is, indeed, NOT a perfect world. So on that note, forgetting the Dodgers for a moment, I ask that imperfect world the same question a simple artist once asked: “What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding?” Merry Christmas, faithful ITD!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Holidays to everyone in ITD land and beyond. I hope things go well for all of you.

I am part of a season ticket partnership which gets me about 8-10 games. I am going to renew but I understand why some long time season ticket holders might not renew. I am not yet willing to give up going to games quite yet.

Merry Christmas to all the ITD readers and writters!
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Ibirken,
I am not willing to let go of my enjoyment. I’ve been a fan thru three owners!
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Everyone be safe! I wish you and your family the best!
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Josh!
Thanks for all you do for us
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

The suit claims Park loaned Kreuter $460,000 in October 2005 to be repaid a year later with interest. Park alleges Kreuter paid back $290,000 in April 2007 and the unpaid balance has grown, with interest, to $281,869.73 as of Dec. 1.

Park is a free agent after playing for the Philadelphia Phillies last year. Kreuter retired in 2003.

Good evening all…………
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I trust everyone has had a very enjoyable day, as mine surely was…..Thank you Santa 🙂
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Santa delivers the magical cap, Royal Blue with White letters that describe the glory that is L.A..
As I opened the box and peaked at its prize, there was a gleam of excitement, and a twinkle in the eye
It happened rather quickly, as I pulled the cap down, like a newly crowned king, these are the things I had seen.
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I seen the park from the top, with all of it?s joy, a beautiful space for a child?s game to be told through a story. Filled with history, that lives still to this day. Faithful fans whom arrive each much aglow, for this kingdom is theirs as the new season will show.
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I see Cy Young?s to be crowned, and a prince they call Dre, who will deliver the news at the end of the day. There will be 40+40 Bison that stampede through these grounds and Loney?s Loons will whistle a song that the hills are ablaze, for rejuvenation is surely on it?s way. The wise ones will gather, and preach the word, that this is the season, to soar like a bird. At the end of the game and upon a Brox?s back, the push towards victory will be mighty and we wont look back. Many battles will be conquered, many foes will fall, and come end of October, we shall hear the call. The moment will dictate the way it is heard, as for his majesty will proclaim, the magic you just heard.
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It’s the season to be cheerful, and a New Year we will soon bestow. But for this faithful fan……It’s GO DODGERS GO!!!!!

Thanks tru….A new Dodger hat always brightens the day….
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Vegas lines…..9-1
.http://www.vegasinsider.com/mlb/odds/futures/
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With the season upon us and the gifts we have been given….I am sure our comical and enjoyable readers and writers can come up with a few of their own???

Dodger4life!
Ahh, nothing like Dodger gear for Christmas to get our spirits up! I have made two trips to the gift shop in the left field side. Both times everything in the store was 50%. Thanks for reading my parody!
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I have to get ready to go to a wake at 5:pm. for my friend Martin who lost his mom to cancer. He used to ride the train with me but because of the cost of the train and extra expenses, he rides the bus instead.
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Well I hope everyone here is fine!
Happy Holidays everyone!
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com/

Jamie Carroll wasn’t required to contribute to the newly installed Ramirez Clause, due to the expected backlash form the players union…….Mannion is currently working with non union, portable concessionaires on installing an Andruw Jones clause…….donations from sales will be given to the innovative, PVL’s Against Obesity Foundation.

The only problem about Andre making MVP and Andre and Matt making the All-Star Team is that either one or both of them might be doing that for another team. The Dodgers apparently have very little money to allocate to payroll increases. What do you think will happen if Andre and Matt are awarded arbitrated salaries in the $6 – $8 million range, which wouldn’t be extravagant based on their 2009 performance. If they chose not to negotiate what I expect the Dodgers to offer them, which will be more like $4 to $5 million, I can readily see that this management will trade them in order to save payroll. I hope I am so WRONG, but I can see that scary scenario happening this year.

I too would be happy for Andre or any other Dodger to compete for MVP and make the All Star team. I don’t much care that doing so would increase their value; that is the way things work in MLB. Both of these players have big paydays down the road if they continue to improve and help a team win games. Hopefully it will be with the Dodgers; we will just have to wait and see. For now, I suggest concentrating on one season at a time.

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